In 2000, 58 communities, spanning all 50 states, leapt into a new millennium with musical celebrations of who they were and where they lived. This was Continental Harmony's Millennial Celebration, a joint initiative of the American Composers Forum and the National Endowment For The Arts.

Work on this massive undertaking began in early 1998. Selected communities gathered to discuss their histories, identities, and landscapes. Through these discussions, each community explored exactly what made them unique and how they could honor themselves with a public celebration. With the Forum's help, each community selected the composer who would become their partner in turning their plans into realities.

By the end of the millennial year, the country had seen the creation of a marvelous musical quilt. Individually, the projects united the often disparate elements of their communities--from the musical merger of Franco-American fiddling and classical music in Farmington, Maine, to the union of racially and economically segregated groups in Madison, Miss. Together, they honored the diversity and vitality of this country's peoples, cultures, and landscapes.

Reaching from small towns to big cities, Continental Harmony's Millennial Celebration honored this country's remarkable artistic and cultural resources, and its impact is still being felt. An extensive study of the participating communities has shown the many tangible ways they've changed through the program--from increased civic pride and the building of stronger community infrastructures to the bridging of long-standing community divisions. Participating composers, arts organizations, and community participants found themselves artistically challenged, and successfully rose to the occasion.

The Millennial Celebration's remarkable scope--premieres in all 50 states in a little more than one year's time--was captured by PBS in a television documentary and accompanying Web site, and its projects were documented by the Library of Congress. Its overwhelming success has led to the extension of Continental Harmony through 2005, with another round of projects engaging communties across the country.

The first round of Continental Harmony was a Millennial Project of the American Composers Forum and the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional funding provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; The Rockefeller Foundation; The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Land O' Lakes Foundation; Ecolab Foundation; and the state arts boards of Minnesota, Ohio, and Illinois.

Documentation of Continental Harmony, an associate partner of the White House Millennium Council, has been archived by the Library of Congress.

Learn more about Continental Harmony's millennial success story. Download the formal evaluation.

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Download notes from the convening of Continental Harmony composers, site hosts, and community leaders around the world who gathered to discuss the question: "How can the arts become a part of everybody's life and help build caring and capable communities?" Read the results of the discussion.

If you are having trouble downloading this document or have any questions, contact Carey Nadeau at (651) 251-2814 or e-mail harmony@composersforum.org.